Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 557: To ask the Minister for Transport the timeframe in which his Department will have made a decision on the application from Dublin Bus to extend the 37 bus route to a new terminus location on the Blanchardstown Road South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1171/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The initiation or alteration of a bus service by the Dublin Bus is subject to compliance with a requirement to give advance notice to my Department and to compliance with the provisions of Section 25 of the Transport Act 1958 concerning competition with licensed private operators. Where proposed services by the Company are deemed to be in competition with services that are the subject of a licence held by a private bus operator issued under the Road Transport Act, 1932, Dublin Bus is required to obtain my consent under section 25 of the Transport Act 1958 before the Company can introduce such services.

My Department received a proposal from Dublin Bus on 1st May, 2008 for changes to its Route 37. Following an initial examination, which included consultation with Dublin Bus, my Department deemed that the proposal would give rise to competition with an existing licensed service. Accordingly, my Department advised Dublin Bus on 9th June, 2008 that an application in accordance with Section 25 of the Transport Act, 1958 was required.

Dublin Bus subsequently submitted a revised proposal for this route. This has been considered by my Department and it has determined that this amended proposal would also give rise to competition with an existing licensed service. Dublin Bus has been advised that an application in accordance with Section 25 of the Transport Act, 1958 is required should the Company wish to pursue the introduction of this revised service.